MERLIN. 217 



sident, but in the south of England, where it is rarely 

 seen, it has been supposed to be merely a winter vi- 

 sitant. 



In courage and activity, this species is excelled by 

 none of our rapacious birds Its flight is very similar 

 to that of the sparrow hawk, being rapid, protracted, 

 and devious. But it generally flies at a greater height 

 than that bird, altliough you may also see it skimming 

 over the fields or copses, and gliding along the hedges. 

 It often captures small birds by thus coming upon them 

 unawares ; but it may as often be observed pursuing 

 one in the open sky, and ultimately securing it, some- 

 times after a long chase. It perches on a stone or crag, 

 apparently for the purpose of inspecting the neighbour- 

 hood, and from its station, should a flock of small birds 

 come up, it fixes upon an individual, from the pursuit 

 of which it is not drawn by the presence of others. Its 

 prey consists of larks, chaffinches, thrushes, sandpipers, 

 plovers, and even partridges. Some authors state that 

 it also occasionally feeds on beetles and other insects ; 

 which is a habit common to all the smaller hawks, as 

 well as most owls. 



In September 1832, I had an opportunity of observ- 

 ing a Merlin in pursuit of a sanderling. It came up as 

 I was shooting along the shore g,t Musselburgh, searched 

 about for some time, flying in various directions at a 

 height of an hundred yards or so, until at length spying 

 the bird, of which it had probably been in chase before 

 I observed it, it rushed after it. The sanderling doubled 

 and endeavoured to escape by skulking among the 

 stones, but the Merlin kept constantly over it, without, 

 however, attempting to seize it when on the ground. 



T 



